Chapter 24: Tested Resolve: Maira vs. Albus Part 3

Maira had just witnessed her monster's destruction at the hands of Albus's fearsome Evolzar Laggia. A creature possessing the ability to negate and destroy an activation of a spell, trap, or a monster's inherent summon.

Maira LP 8000-1500=6500

"Well Ms. Yune, I believe I'm through for now. Make your move."

"... Alright… Draw. I'll play a card called Watery Grave. This allows me to summon a LV4 or lower WATER monster from my deck or grave if one of my WATER monsters was destroyed this turn. I'll bring to my field Swamp Dweller in defense mode!" she spoke seldom, as if her fire was slowly going out... and so was her enthusiasm as she looked to Kageru's condition.

Swamp Dweller LV4 WATER/Aqua
ATK 600

DEF 1000

"And I'll end my turn..." Maira glared at Albus, slowly lifting her arms down and prepared to watch his play.

"That is all? Very well then. I draw. I shall activate my facedown trap. Acidic Overlay. This card can only be activated during my turn while I control an Xyz monster with no overlay units. I can select two cards from my grave and attach them to my Laggia as Xyz materials…"

Albus randomly selected two cards that flew about and began surrounding his monster. Maira grimaced at this, knowing that Laggia had retained its devastating special ability. She then noticed an odd stench and form about these particular materials. Albus quickly explained.

" I see you noticed…. How can a card with such an effect have no certain cost? Well unfortunately for me, there is a catch to granting my monster more fuel. You see, I have about two turns to detach these materials. And during my 2nd End Phase, I shall take 2000 points of damage for each one I did not detach. Also….. Whenever I detach one of these acidic units, I shall also suffer 1000 points of damage. "

"( Quite a risk you're taking brother.)" Aria thought. "(I do hope you know what you're doing… Still, even with the damage he may suffer, a monster with the power to nullify nearly any card played is quite fearsome indeed.)"

"( Shoot! That thing has more units… If he keeps shutting down Maira's plays with that thing…. It's only a matter of time before Maira gets overwhelmed. These…. These Evols….. They're stronger….. Stronger than his deck before. Does Maira even…. No! I know Maira…. It's situations like this are the times she truly goes all out. Even I have to admit….. She's stronger than Akane when she puts her mind to it… Come on Maira! Remember! I'll never accept someone else but me beating you! Don't you dare let Albus pin you down like this!)" Kageru took a few deep breaths to calm his mind and body down as he watched the duel.

" Next…. I shall activate Foolish Burial…. With this spell, I may send any monster from my deck to the graveyard. I will send my Evolsaur Pelta to the grave. Finally, I shall place a monster in facedown Defense….. Your turn Ms. Yune. I cannot conduct my Battle phase during the turn that Acidic Overlay has been activated. (Now then...My Laggia has one more negation effect. What will you do?)

"Grrr... he didn't attack like I planned he would.. and now... he's got more overlay units to use! Tsk... what if-" Maira shook her head, closing her eyes tightly shut and trying to focus. 'No! I can't lose hope! This is just like Kell said. I need this intenseness in a duel to get stronger! I just have to adapt to this situation! I'm always just joking off and messing around with Kageru... but now... now I need to take this seriously... here is my chance to give it my all!'

"Alright, my move! Draw card!" she drew her card, and looked it over carefully….( Perfect just what I needed!)... I'll activate 'Nobody Move!' this spell card allows me to negate one of my opponent's Xyz monster's effects on the field this turn while I control no monsters, and it also gets rid of their overlay units. Oh and unfortunately for you, you can't respond with monster effects while I activate this card!" The card revealed a Cowboy with two pistols in his hands, pointing them at robbers as his sheriff's badge gleamed.

" Urrmmm… A card that bypasses spell speed 2 cards?... !" Albus's units began to backfire and burn him with corrosive acid.

Albus LP 7800-2000=5800

"Now then, since you can't use your effect can you? Not just that, but you also can't stop my plans! Here I go! I activate Swamp Dweller's ability! I can special summon one Missing Link to my field!"

Missing Link LV4 WATER/Aqua
ATK 1600 DEF 800

"Then I'll sacrifice both of them to summon Syrin!" An alluring mermaid with wavy blonde hair and a pink flowing upper dress that was spilt slightly to reveal her tail emerged onto the field, winking at Albus.

Syrin LV7 WATER/Aqua
ATK: 2100
DEF: 1800

" I also play the equip spell; Mystic Mermaid Music! This will boost Syrin's ATK by 500.

Syrin ATK 2100+500=2600

Now….. I think I will use her ability!" she grinned, as suddenly a percentage appeared above the playing field.

Song notes danced around Syrin, spiraling in harmony as she sang.

"I activate Syrin's ability! Depending on the amount of monsters on the field, Syrin can take control of one monster on the opponent's field. Since you have one monster on the field, the probability of her hitting the right notes is 20%, however, thanks to Mystic Mermaid Music, this percentage is automatically increased by 40%. I think we know where this is going... Syrin! Syrin's Song!"

Syrin started singing, dancing and flying alluringly around Laggia. Spiraling up his long neck and cupping her hands over his giant face. Suddenly, Laggia shook, and slowly took a step forward. It then reached Maira's field and turned around, the song notes encircled it just as they did Syrin's raising his attack.

"YES! I've got your monster and with that Mystic Mermaid Music also has its attack boosted by 500!"

Evolzar Laggia ATK 2400+500=2900

"Now! For my comeback play! Go! Battlephase! Syrin, attack his face down!"

Syrin charged in and flailed her tail around, destroying Albus's set monster which was revealed to be Evoltile Gephyro.

"Hmph...I activate Gephyro's special ability; when it is destroyed as a result of a battle, I am able to special summon an Evolsaur monster from my grave. Come...Evolsaur Pelta!"

A heat aura was released from the remains of the destroyed Gephyro. The heat burnt a hole through Albus's grave, letting out the revival of the monster he sent to the graveyard earlier.

Evolsaur Pelta LV4 FIRE/Dinosaur

ATK 1100
DEF 2000

"When Pelta is summoned by the effect of an Evoltile monster, its DEF increases by 500 points."

Evolsaur Pelta DEF 2000+500=2500

"That won't be enough to stop me! Go Evolzar Laggia! Attack his monster!

Maira resumed her attack with Laggia, destroying Pelta's massive DEF. Odd heat energy suddenly released of out Pelta's remains. It seemed that Albus had done a bit more than simply stall her opponent.

"I'll activate Pelta's 2nd effect. When it is destroyed by battle after being summoned by an Evoltile monster, I can add one Evolsaur monster from my deck to my hand. With this. I'll add Evolsaur Cerato to my hand."

"Tch… I'll place one card facedown and end my turn.."

Laggia's eyes glowed, signifying its freedom from Syrin's allure. It then flew back to Albus's field ready for a vengeance.

"My turn. Draw...Well Maira, I'm a bit impressed with your ability. It seems you're quite the duelist your reputation claims. However...As of now, your power isn't enough to change this world. For you to become the so called Empress of Duel monsters without so much as an actual struggle is quite an insult to me. You have talent, and spirit I'll give you that. However, your motives are just as shallow-minded as that of Mr. Hinodama's. To become the best really? For what reason do you seek that goal. With a resolve such as that, the strength and spirit you possess are as durable as damaged glass...And in order for you to truly realize your weakness…. I shall demonstrate how weak you truly are, by breaking you myself... Like my sister who had already crushed your friend Hinodama's body...I on the other hand.. shall destroy your spirit!"

"From my grave, I shall active the final effect of Acidic Overlay. I banish this card as a cost to retrieve two overlay units to my monster. And each time I use one of these materials, I take 500 points of damage. I attach 2 more units to Evolzar Laggia!"

Two more acidic units flew about and spiraled towards Laggia, Thus granting it its negation ability for a third time.

" A third negation ability!?" Kageru exclaimed.

" That is right…. This is the type of game that very well suits my brother style, as well as the play style of the Castelle family. We take great pleasure in simply crippling our opponents and their strategies. With this, Ms. Yune can only stare at the face of defeat, knowing that any play she desires will simply be denied. He shall toy with his prey until the right time for his inevitable victory to come… "

" Prepare Maira Yune…. For the next few turns shall reveal just how weak your resolve is!"